Reel Life February 2025 - Eastern

Autumn opportunities just around the corner 

The continuation of mixed and unusual weather patterns has made predicting fishing opportunities difficult. As we roll into March and expect cooler conditions to prevail, there’s still plenty of daylight hours and midday warmth to keep trout actively feeding on insects.

Image above: Maple and her dog April with a 4kg Rotoiti rainbow caught jigging in February. This fish was a two-and-a-half-year-old hatchery liberation released in February 2023 showing incredible growth.

Our rivers and streams have seen very few flushes this summer, so flows are low and clear resulting in spooky fish. In most cases, we would benefit from some late summer rain to clear filamentous algae and make slippery rocks easier to navigate. Dry fly activity hasn’t been as prolific as it might, perhaps due to the weather, but evening hatches of mayfly and caddis are still worth waiting around for and fish have been responsive to cicada and cricket patterns.     

Low, clear water conditions can be a challenge. Ngongotaha Stream. 

Autumn signals the start of rainbow trout spawning in our big Rotorua lakes – with the spawning season here being much more traditionally timed then say the Taupo region. Anglers can expect fish to be mooching around the shoreline areas and release points from mid-March or even earlier if we get cold, rainy weather. It will be full-on from mid-April with pods of aggressive rainbows patrolling the shoreline spawning areas. Remember, for spawning fish rainy conditions after a fine spell are a trigger, so you might gauge the prospects of good fishing by whether you need your raincoat or not! And, just to so you know, from what we’ve seen on the lakes this summer we are expecting some really big fish this winter!

Deepwater methods will continue to be successful until the end of June, when Tarawera, Rotoiti and Okataina close for the winter, re-opening again on October 1. Jigging and soft baiting down to 20m has been action-packed with a high average size. Shallow trolling usually takes off again from dawn about April and May when a second smelt spawning takes place. A Tassie and smelt fly combination fished just a metre or two below the surface is hard to beat. Maturing fish tend to move towards their release locations from now, so look to the deep drop-offs along Rotoiti’s southeast shore, Tarawera from the boat ramp access along Spencer Rd and at all of the stream mouths and Okataina from the main beach.

The Lake Rotorua stream mouth action has taken off, although it might have been later this year due to the weather, the fishing has been superb with anglers reporting good catches of fat rainbow and browns. Small nymphs, such as size 16-18 pheasant tails fished under an indicator have been working well. Alternatively, wet flies such as smelt or bully patterns jerk-stripped on floating lines are the way to go.         

Okataina Update

A new automated gate has been installed at Lake Okataina. As we write Reel Life the gate is in testing, but should be up and running by February 26^th. The idea is to make access simpler for users and not restricted to specific times of the day.

The MPI Controlled Area Notice is still in place for Lake Okataina meaning boaties still need to wash their boats at The Wash Place, 338 Te Ngae Rd, Rotorua. Once this has been completed, users should scan the QR code at the wash station and fill out the online form while you are there. You will then receive a unique 4-digit PIN number sent to your phone and email. This number can be punched into a keypad at the lake which opens the automated gate. The PIN is unique and can be used only twice, once as you access the lake, and once as you leave. Sensors prevent the gate from closing while you are at the ramp.

If you have issues you can call the Bay of Plenty Regional Council Contact Centre, 0800 884 880 or enquire at the Okataina Lodge. They will be able to provide access, as long as the washing/scanning requirements have been completed. 

Updated information on the gate can be found at https://www.rotorualakes.co.nz/freshwater-gold-clam

Biosecurity New Zealand and partners, iwi and other stakeholders have worked to contain Freshwater Gold Clam (Corbicula) to known locations in the Waikato River catchment area.

Datawatch tagged Trout

Tagged trout can now be entered online. Entries go into the draw to win one of 10 free whole-season fishing licences: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QCH5ZR6

Eastern Region Fishing Diaries – All lakes and streams

Fill in your fishing diaries here to help us manage the Eastern Fish & Game region. Participants go in the draw to win a $100 voucher from Kilwell: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QRSD7D3